18/05/2026
On 14 May 2026, the event “Taste of China — Where Chinese Cuisine Meets the Black and White Keys” organized by the China Cultural Center in Copenhagen, was grandly held at the Center’s premises. World-renowned pianist Lang Lang, the inaugural laureate of the Daphne Awards established by the Danish Research Foundation, attended the event as guest of honor. Distinguished guests in attendance included the Chinese Ambassador to Denmark; former Danish cabinet ministers; former Danish ambassadors to China, as well as former Consul General in Shanghai and Guangzhou; CEO of Tivoli Gardens; CEO of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, Danish Chapter; CEO of Copenhagen Phil; Rector of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts; professors from the Royal Academy of Music; representatives of the Daphne Awards and Columbia Artists Music; officials from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; CEO of Danish Maritime and the Asia Sales Director from Royal Greenland; Copenhagen City Councilor; as well as representatives from the business, academic, sports, and media fields. The gathering brought together distinguished figures from various sectors to experience the unique charm created by the fusion of Chinese culinary culture and world music artistry.
Director Mu Xianghong of the China Cultural Center in Copenhagen stated in her welcome address that the Center has consistently been committed to building a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and Denmark and to promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries. She noted that this event innovatively combined Chinese culinary culture with piano art, offering a dual sensory experience of taste and sound, showcasing the profound heritage and inclusive spirit of Chinese culture, and further advancing mutual learning and exchange between Chinese and Danish civilizations.
Ambassador Wang Xuefeng of the People’s Republic of China to Denmark expressed his appreciation in his remarks to all parties for their long-standing commitment to promoting China–Denmark friendship. He commended the China Cultural Center in Copenhagen for actively implementing President Xi Jinping’s Global Civilization Initiative and for strengthening cultural exchanges between China and Denmark through a wide range of cultural activities. He stated that music knows no borders and serves as a universal language that connects hearts. Lang Lang is not only a world-class pianist but also an outstanding cultural ambassador. Through his poetic and expressive performances, he blends Eastern melodies with Western musical traditions, composing a moving symphony of civilizational exchange and mutual learning on the black and white keys.
Subsequently, Mette Walsted Vestergaard, Executive Director of Strategic Communications and International Affairs of the Daphne Awards, delivered a speech in which she highly commended international artists such as Lang Lang for promoting mutual understanding and people-to-people friendship through cultural and artistic exchange, and expressed her expectation that Denmark and China will further develop more high-level cultural cooperation in the future.
As guest of honor, Lang Lang expressed his gratitude to the China Cultural Center in Copenhagen for meticulously organizing this high-level cultural event that perfectly integrates cuisine and music. He also welcomed the guests in attendance to visit China, savor Chinese cuisine, and experience both its long and brilliant historical heritage as well as its dynamic contemporary development.
Centered on the “Eight Major Cuisines of China”, the event created an immersive cultural experience through an innovative curatorial approach that combined Chinese gastronomy, tea culture, and musical artistry. A carefully designed visual presentation of representative dishes from each cuisine was displayed on site, guiding guests through a geographic journey from south to north as they sampled signature dishes from Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shandong cuisines, accompanied by four selected varieties of Chinese signature tea. As each dish was served, videos showcasing its preparation were simultaneously presented alongside piano pieces of varying styles, enabling guests to engage in a multi-sensory experience where sight, taste, and sound intertwined and to fully appreciate the distinctive charm of Chinese culinary culture, which embodies color, aroma, taste, meaning, and ambiance. Traditional cuisine and world music resonated within the same space, reflecting both the inclusive and harmonious spirit of Chinese culture and the creativity and sophistication of cultural exchange through innovative expression.
At the height of the event, Lang Lang performed the Chinese classical piece “Jasmine Flower (Mo Li Hua)” whose delicate and expressive interpretation was met with prolonged and enthusiastic applause, bringing the atmosphere to its climax.
World-renowned pianist and Steinway Artist Marianna Shirinyan also delivered a remarkable performance, joining Lang Lang in a musical dialogue across cultures that fully demonstrated the power of music to transcend borders and connect hearts.
“Taste of China — Where Chinese Cuisine Meets the Black and White Keys” received strong support from the Chinese Embassy in Denmark and dedicated assistance from the China–Denmark Youth Association. From guest invitation and event planning to culinary presentation and on-site ex*****on, all elements were closely coordinated and highly acclaimed, earning widespread praise and positive responses from attendees.
This event was not only a cultural feast where taste and art converged, but also a vivid practice of mutual learning between Chinese and Danish civilizations. As the first China cultural center in the Nordic region, the China Cultural Center in Copenhagen will continue to serve as a bridge, delivering high-quality cultural programs that combine intellectual depth, artistic value, and international communicative power, further promoting mutual understanding, appreciation, and friendship between the peoples of China and Denmark, and contributing to deeper cultural exchanges between different civilizations.